Wednesday, March 30, 2016

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission first issued an original license for the West Branch Project on September 4, 1980. The project includes two developments, Sysladobsis and West Grand, that operate as water storage facilities to provide flood storage and flow releases for downstream hydroelectric generation. The Sysladobsis Development uses Sysladobsis Lake as its impoundment. The license describes the West Grand Development as composed of several natural lakes including Scraggly Lake, Keg Lake, Bottle Lake, Junior Lake, Junior Bay, Norway Lake, Pug Lake, Pocumcus Lake, Horseshoe Lake, and West Grand Lake.

Dikes and dams are used to control and release water, first from
Sysladobsis Lake into the downstream West Grand impoundment, then into
either Grand Lake Stream or Grand Lake Brook. Many of the dams and
dikes at these sites are old -- the Sysladobsis dam, West Grand dam, and Farm Cove dike
were constructed in 1861, 1836, and 1879, respectively, although all
three have since been rebuilt.

Each of these developments operates in a seasonal store-and-release mode whereby water is stored to reduce downstream flooding during periods of high flow and released during periods of low flow to augment generation at the downstream hydroelectric projects.

The West Branch Project also operates as part of the larger St. Croix River headwater storage system. This network of dams includes Woodland Pulp LLC’s Forest City Project No. 2660 and the recently relicensed Vanceboro Project No. 2492. Generation associated with these projects occurs at the Grand Falls and Woodland hydroelectric projects downstream on the St. Croix River.

The West Branch Project's original 1980 license was amended in 1987 to include the existing Farm Cove dike, but the original license expired on September 30, 2000. Since then, the licensee has operated the project under an annual license pending the disposition of a new license application.

Fishery issues have been contentious in the St. Croix River system. After opportunity for public comment, agency consultation, and preparation of an Environmental Assessment, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife asked the Commission to delay its licensing decision until fishery management talks concluded. After being notified by the Department that those talks had concluded, on March 15, 2016 the Commission issued Woodland Pulp a new license to continue operating and maintaining the West Branch Project.

The new license requires a number of measures to protect and enhance water quality, aquatic habitat, fisheries resources, terrestrial resources, and recreation opportunities at the project. These include a requirement to operate the developments in store-and-release mode between defined pond elevations, to provide certain minimum flows of water, to develop an Operation Compliance Monitoring Plan, and to provide and enhance fish passage.

No comments:

Post a Comment

About Preti Flaherty

Preti Flaherty is one of northern New England's largest law firms, with more than 100 attorneys. We work with clients as creative, strategic partners to help move their businesses forward. With offices in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Washington D.C. and expertise in multi-state and cross-border matters, Preti Flaherty has emerged as a thriving, regional firm.

Links

About this blog

A blog about energy resources, energy policy, and their effects on society and the environment. From fossil fuels to renewable energy, electricity to natural gas and oil, traditional technologies to innovations, this blog presents a look at the past, present, and future of energy.

This blog site is published by and reflects the personal views of Todd Griset, in his individual capacity. It does not necessarily represent the views of his law firm or clients, and is not sponsored or endorsed by them. The purpose of this blog site is to assist in dissemination of information about energy policy and related issues, but no representation is made about the accuracy of the information. The information contained in this blog site is provided only as general information for education purposes, and blog topics may or may not be updated subsequent to their initial posting.

By using this blog site you understand that this information is not provided in the course of an attorney-client relationship and is not intended to constitute legal advice. This blog site should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed attorney in your state. This blog site is not intended to be advertising and Todd Griset does not wish to represent anyone desiring representation based upon viewing this blog site in a state where this blog site fails to comply with all laws and ethical rules of that state.